Sunday School Teacher Gifts-Free Printable

It's that time again.

The time of year to express our gratitude to all those who work so tirelessly for the benefit of others.

Last year, these are the little tokens offered to our Church School to express the sentiment.

Here's how I made them.

Pink and White

YES, it still feels and looks like winter,

spring will eventually be here.

We are almost there.

Our ladies society at church recently had a tea and I was given these lovelies.

They fill the kitchen with a beautiful aroma, sweet and full of spring.

Many are hoping for spring and renewal. In Greek, many times there are single words that encapsulate multiple meanings. The word I'm thinking of means patience, strength, perseverance, taking things in stride. This is something not only we all need for waiting for spring but also for many events in our lives. I think of recent events and I pray for...

EPOMONI

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, 

is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, 

and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27

The funeral arrangements have been made and there are several places, here and here,  to assist Presbytera Kate and the Baker family.

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Made in the Shade

How Does your Garden Grow-2014

Last year I took you on a tour of some of my favorite gardens, if you would like to visit them go here and here and here.  I visited a new one this past week. It is gorgeous.  It's a neighbor in the next town over who sells plants from his garden when he needs to divide his perennials.  Seriously, this is a work of art and love.

This was in the middle of the morning. There was a gentle breeze and sweetest aroma of fresh cut grass and Viburnum.

Keeping track of your garden

I am continuing my garden journal this year but adding to it.  Last year I did this schematic to help me remember where and what was planted in the rock garden. You may remember we decided to triple it's size last year and so added quite a few more perennials ,after amending the soil.

This year the journal is going to have dates of blooms and progress of the flowers with photos. I'm keeping a journal on the computer but am also printing out pages and adding to a three ring binder so I can also keep seed packet info, add drawings/notes and take it out to the garden with me. I'm pretty pleased with myself on this one.

Let's see how I do this season?
What's your plan? Do you keep a garden journal?

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Sharing with
Stone Gable
French Country Cottage
Be Different Act Normal
BoogieBoardCottage
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
The Dedicated House
Savvy Southern Style

Hibiscus

It's been a little time since I posted.  A busy and beautiful Holy Week and Bright week. On Holy Friday, we awakened to this sight. Our lovely Hibiscus given to me last summer by a neighbor who moved away, has been dormant until...

it bloomed.

It surprised me as I had seen little buds but had not expected these blooms!

They are huge, the pictures do not do them justice.

Will be having some more surprises coming to the Fields in May. So stop back to...

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What does the fox say?

So this handsome fellow lives nearby and just was sauntering through our backyard. 

What does a fox say?

Not sure, there is quite a bit of yipping at night.

This may or may not be the same fox that delayed the kids from coming home last year.

We got a call saying there would be a delay, 

because there was a fox and a bear in the playground.

It's all good.

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They are not doing well but still hoping...

Here we are in 2014 and last year this time I was watching my orchids take off and had a sweet little fern that was doing well. 

This year, perhaps I overwatered, but no orchids at this point, and unlikely at all.  There are no leaves, all gone. And the roots above, all dried up and were brown. Just pitiful. 

I took the root ball and aired it out a bit and cut one of the roots and placed in a second container and then repotted the remainder.  I tried to allow for air and used a mixture of moss/perlite and the original pellets.  The roots below were white and some greenish, but a little soggy. I gave a tiny bit of orchid food and no extra water or ice at this point. Now we wait. Hopefully I did it right, orchids are finicky.  

Beautiful Fall

Beautiful Fall Geese-to be watched-out of formation

Beautiful Fall Colors-to be enjoyed.

Beautiful Fall Bulbs- to be planted.

Beautiful Warm Fall Nights- to be ending soon

Beautiful Fall Gourds- to be arranged.

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Coming this week, Rustic Breakfast Stromboli Recipe and Fall Mantle Reveal...

Fall drive

No Words

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Light in the Trees

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Who's at the Feeder Fridays-Hummingbirds

We moved the hummingbird feeder this year from hanging off the porch, mainly due to damage from Hijinx and his friends which then led to the ants going marching. Hummingbirds don't like it when the ants are in their food.  They will abandon the feeder and she did.

Early in the season, our first little hummingbird to start to visit, was a little girl. How little who knows how to test the age of a hummingbird? We moved the feeder to a hanging window one. It has provided us with much enjoyment, I can't even describe. Our little girl visits almost every 5 minutes and mid June we started seeing her guy! He's a little bigger and ruby-throated. They fly back and forth from our honeysuckle on the side of the house to our kitchen window feeder. We have also seen them get comfortable enough to sit on the perch I made last year! That was a sight! So exciting, sorry, they are so fast haven't been able to catch a picture of that, yet.

I was able to catch a picture of our little girl up on oak branch, way up the tree. Thanks to the eagle eyes of my hubby.

I would love to have them get comfortable enough to handfeed them someday?

Anyone been able to do this?

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Who's at the Feeder Fridays-Chippy Visits

Who says just because it's a bird feeder, 

it's only for the birds?

Check out who else visits.

Huh?
Who's there?

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The Rock Garden

As I said before, I started early this year, I could not wait to get out there.  I am not a skilled gardener, but I'm learning. I love flowers, I love seeing them sprout and become fuller year to year.  I remember my parents garden's past, and my Yiayia's little garden, all so beautiful to look at, the softness of the geranium petals and the air around us filled with sweetness. I love the memories flowers bring back.

                                                                                                         

These offer a little taste of the flower gardens of my childhood, my parent's back and front gardens from many years ago, these pictures do not do them justice and certainly do not show you the roses!

Who's at the Feeder Fridays

Ok to give some structure to the summer, planning to start a couple of features. I have been drowning in end of the year events-which have been very fun, and work and other things. Our backyard feeders have been full and it's a wild-life alright. Sometimes I can't believe how many there are, all at the same time?

It's a blessing.

So on Fridays for those who want to check in- you will get to see who's been at our feeder?

I'm still here.
You still there?

Will announce more features as we go.

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Just because they're so cute...

Ever wonder if animal mothers look at their broods and just go awww...you are so cute.

This chicken is called a "Frill."

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Rejoice

Ever wonder how important patterns in nature repeat?

Glory in his holy name;

let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

1 Chronicles 16.10:

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The Band Arrives

Well, the birds have come out in full swing, we have some old friends, the Robin couples and a striking Cardinal pair. The doves, woodpeckers, sparrows, finches and cowbirds are all here. Our little Hummingbirds haven't returned yet, it's quite late, they are usually around by late April. I don't blame them, the weather has been so labile, pretty cold at times, then 80 degrees?

We just had one more frost, hoping it is the last one?

Our garden is starting to take shape and the feeders are full. These bully boys are now regulars. We had one then two, then many more Blue Jays swoop in one day. I'm so glad, I was able to catch a picture to share with you. Their colors are so gorgeous, check out the Cerulean blue. Many blue jays together are called, "band", "scold", "cast" or a "party". These bully boys are a band if I ever saw one.

If you are wondering what's keeping me busy, these rocks are new and the garden bigger.
Adding soil and compost etc this week. I'll share soon.
For now, forgive two bird posts back to back.
Just had to share these bad boys.

Other bluejay poetry.

O Blue Jay up in the maple tree,
Shaking your throat with such bursts of glee,
How did you happen to be so blue?
Did you steal a bit of the lake for your crest,
And fasten blue violets into your vest?
Tell me, I pray you,–tell me true!

Did you dip your wings in azure dye,
When April began to paint the sky,
That was pale with the winter’s stay?
Or were you hatched from a blue-bell bright,
‘Neath the warm, gold breast of a sunbeam light,
By the river one blue spring day?

O Blue Jay up in the maple tree,
A-tossing your saucy head at me,
With ne’er a word for my questioning,
Pray, cease for a moment your “ting-a-link,”
And hear when I tell you what I think,–
You bonniest bit of spring.

I think when the fairies made the flowers,
To grow in these mossy fields of ours,
Periwinkles and violets rare,
There was left of the spring’s own color, blue,
Plenty to fashion a flower whose hue
Would be richer than all and as fair.

So, putting their wits together, they
Made one great blossom so bright and gay,
The lily beside it seemed blurred:
And then they said, “We will toss it in air;
So many blue blossoms grow everywhere,
Let this pretty one be a bird.”
Susan Hartley Swett.

Source

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Newest Trials of a Lemon Tree

Well do you remember my excitement at owning a lemon tree? I had bought one for my sister and one for us last summer, and had an embarrassing moment at the nursery, when it went naked. Well, it never truly recovered, despite fertilizing and watering and much love. It was ok, but not full and how a lemon tree should look and feel.
Then, a few days after Christmas , we awakened and found it covered in this! 

Whaaaaat is THAT????
Horrifying! AHHHH! YUCK! 

Just imagine, several gagging sounds and my face in the most squishiest position possible.

Now, I am not a lover of bugs, unlike someone else with little hands, who had immediantly pulled out the nature books and started googling to identify our invader.  We placed it outside, not fearful it would spread, just grossed out and thinking it might kill or slow down whatever that was! 

I went back to the nursery-in the dead of winter, to confirm the identification made by our sweet boy. 

In the end, he was right!

Poor little tree-shiver shiver brrr

It ended up being, Cotton Scale,  and I needed to spray it and wash it all away.  I bought the $10 Citrus Oil Spray, and I sprayed it and washed it in the garage. Not as simple as I'm making it sound in freezing weather, let me just share.
Then, faithfully watered it and fertilized it. 

Seriously, I thought I had killed it again. I was sure it was dead.
My MiL would ask, "how's the lemonia?"
"Well, no change-yet"
"Keep watering it" she would encourage.

Father asked me several times, "how long are we keeping this in the window?"
I would respond, " I know, let's just give it some time, how about until after Pascha?"

So, I watered and waited, and watered and waited. 

But what to my delight did appear! (No, not reindeer, being this saga restarted at Christmas)

Look!

Here let me help you.

So with new vigor and hope.
I cut back all the dead branches and kept watering.
Today it looks like this!

Perhaps this season it will grow healthy and beautiful and strong.

I visited a parishioner recently who has a 6 ft tall lemon tree potted, on wheels and in the garage with loads and loads of lemons on it, still waiting for warmer weather. We are almost there. I would love to spend more time with him, what a beautiful garden he has created, you can see it even before everything has started blooming.
It is the kind you find in magazines. Just gorgeous and peaceful. (sigh)
He invited me back this summer to take pictures to share with you, and I WILL!

So take away message, yes I will still put this little guy outside this summer. But- I will always spray and wash it before bringing it back in.

Pascha is truly a time of renewal and hope!

Pray for each other and continue to pray for the safe return of the Abducted Bishops of Aleppo, and all those who are missing and away from those who love them.
May our Risen Lord continue to protect us all and give them strength and a safe return.

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Simple Beauty

I was struck by the simple beauty this morning.

Look at how sparkly?

God's Creation

So Beautiful

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I can't believe it didn't die

As you know I like to garden.  I do ok outside, you might in even remember last summer I had some beautiful results.  Indoors, is another story.  I have managed to lose every houseplant, tree, african violet, cactus, etc...

So, you can imagine my surprise this year, which became an excellent Valentine bonus.